Street Beats & Barrio Love: Carnival 2026 in Buenos Aires

From February 14 to 19, Tres Monos—one of the best bars in Buenos Aires—celebrates the fourth edition of its Gran Corso: a week of carnival that blends popular culture, top-level mixology, and guest bartenders from Spain, France, Japan, Mexico, and Uruguay. The bar once again activates its neighborhood—Palermo—with an expanded program that also unfolds in partner venues and friendly bars.

The highlight: Sunday, February 15, when Thames Street becomes the stage for the Gran Corso. Hosts Seba Atienza, Charly Aguinsky, and Gus Vocke will welcome murga El Rechifle de Palermo in a street parade bringing together musicians, dancers, and neighbors, reaffirming the bar’s bond with public space and neighborhood identity. The celebration continues indoors and multiplies at Víctor Audio Bar and La UAT, with guest shifts, after-parties, and crossovers between local and international scenes. Their Instagram gathers the full schedule and updates for this major celebration.

The insider tip: Gran Corso also has a social impact. Guests will visit La Escuelita, the educational project by Tres Monos and Niño Gordo in Barrio Mugica, where the talk “Women in Hospitality” will take place, creating space for dialogue about the role of women in the industry.

Where: Tres Monos: Guatemala 4899, Victor Audio Bar: Soler 5130 y La UAT, Thames 1627.

This River Plate–born murga stands on clear values: friendship, camaraderie, and unity. Al ritmo de la banda is family. The corso functions as a space for learning and passing down street art traditions, where members play, dance, recite, and make their own costumes. Entire families often share both stage and creative process.

This year’s critique engages with the current social and political climate. Self-managed and collectively organized, the murga carries that spirit from rehearsals to the stage. The work is intense and ongoing, but enjoyment remains central to the project. They rehearse at Parque San Benito (Figueroa Alcorta and Monroe) every Saturday from 5 to 7pm and, during November, also on Thursdays. This carnival, you can find them on Sunday the 8th at 8pm in Mataderos and February 17 at 8pm in Villa Pueyrredón.

The insider tip: It began as a murga workshop inside River Plate club and grew into an active part of the city’s carnival scene. The bond with the stadium remains strong—you might even spot them in the stands.

Where: Parque San Benito.

At Relegados de Belgrano, no show is ever repeated. Each year they renew their songs, staging, and themes, always with humor and a sharp look at everyday life. For Carnival 2026, their focus is public healthcare and its current tensions. This year’s novelty: theatrical sketches between songs that build a narrative arc and bring the show to a close. With 20 to 30 members, the murga is a space of inclusion and support where the main goal is to have fun—singing, dancing, acting, and creating fantasy.

They depart from Plaza Garicoits, also their rehearsal space. Catch them Sunday, January 25 at CAP (Juan B. Justo 2091); Saturday, January 31 at 5:50pm with Amanecidos de Palermo (Av. Sarmiento and Av. Colombia); and Saturday, February 7, with two performances: 7pm at Pegotes de Florida (Av. San Martín 2401) and 9pm at Caprichos de Villa Martelli (Carlos Tejedor and Hipólito Yrigoyen).

The insider tip: They rehearse every Saturday from 5 to 7pm at Plaza Garicoits. Anyone who wants to join is welcome—just show up.

Where: Plaza Garicoits.

Based in San Telmo and driven by a restless spirit, Caprichosos de San Telmo see carnival as a living project. Part of the city circuit and with around 140 members, the murga works as an extended family and a supportive space where carnival is built day by day.

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Faithful to tradition—bombo con platillo, singing, dancing, and a classic structure—this year their critique focuses on the Patagonia wildfires, approached from a social and human perspective. They perform February 14 at 1am in La Boca and February 22 at 8pm in Villa Urquiza. The full schedule is constantly updated on their social media.

The insider tip: This year they expand the classic format with a diverse lineup that blends murga with cumbia, folklore, and other cultural expressions.

Where: San Juan and Chacabuco.

Los Amantes de La Boca are all about spectacle, power, and passion. Born among dances, flags, and fantasy, the murga grew from an early love of percussion and is now one of the largest in the city. With more than 150 active members and a community exceeding 600 people, everything they do is self-funded—year-round work and meticulous organization visible in every performance.

For them, carnival is street, cobblestone, and crowd. They move with 12 to 14 buses, car caravans, more than 70 instruments, and an entire block of fantasy. They rehearse from spring onward and perform throughout the year at festivals and neighborhood celebrations. This carnival, find them on the weekends of February 7, 14, and 21 at Palos and Blanes.

The insider tip: The murga is so inclusive you might even spot a River Plate fan among them.

Where: Irala & Wenceslao Villafañe.

With deep roots in Almagro, Los Viciosos de Almagro tell the story of Buenos Aires carnival from the inside. Founded in 1950 at Guardia Vieja and Bulnes, among conventillos and neighbors who wanted to represent their barrio.

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Since then, the murga has become a collective experience where costumes equalize, integrate, and welcome everyone who wants to dance and drum. Made up of entire generations, every February they take to the streets with a clear idea: reclaim carnival as a free, popular, shared celebration—where you sing, dance, and go home a little happier.

The insider tip: On Friday, February 20 at 9pm, find them at Galpón B (Cochabamba 2536) for a family-friendly carnival with guaranteed fun.

Where: Av. Medrano and Bartolomé Mitre.

Based in Boedo with more than 25 years of history, Los Chiflados de Boedo are a carnival classic that blends tradition and neighborhood pride. Founded in 1998 by carnival leaders seeking independence, the murga includes everyone from the youngest members (“mascotas” and pre-murgueros) to seasoned dancers and percussionists, with bombos at the core.

Each member contributes to the murga’s fabric, adding color and height with flags, parasols, and the fantasy line, balancing artistry and barrio identity. Deeply tied to San Lorenzo and Boedo, culture, tango, and football history mix with murga music and percussion.

The insider tip: They represent Boedo in corsos and maintain close ties with San Lorenzo supporters—you may see them in the stands as well as on carnival stages.

Where: Av. Boedo 1057, Boedo.

With 27 years of history, Los Pitucos defend Buenos Aires carnival as what it is: a free, popular, deeply neighborhood-rooted celebration. Their costume is iconic—purple pants, white tailcoat, orange cuffs, and white gloves—and this year they raise the stakes with a striking staging: a five-meter obelisk, decorated umbrellas, and scenery that turns the street into spectacle.

They’ve always organized their own corso in Villa del Parque, without street closures or barriers. There’s no distance between murga and audience: “We are all one,” they repeat. Organized horizontally, without director or hierarchies, everything is decided collectively. Their banner is clear: human rights, equality, identity, and memory as living parts of carnival. The message is simple: carnival belongs to everyone. They perform February 15 and 16, and March 2 and 3 from 7pm at Cuenca and Marcos Sastre, Villa del Parque.

The insider tip: Today they gather between 90 and 100 members and function as a large, moving family. The atmosphere is joyful and open—no one is left out.

Where: Cuenca and Marcos Sastre, Villa del Parque.

Emblematic and proudly neighborhood-based, Los Descarrilados de Parque Avellaneda have been part of the city’s southern murga pulse since the mid-90s. Born from the neighborhood’s cultural movement, the murga grew as a space for gathering, celebration, and collective expression, using carnival as an excuse to open the streets and celebrate together.

With families and members of all ages, their identity shines in colorful costumes—yellow, red, and green—ribbons flowing from their arms, and the powerful sound of bombo con platillo. They rehearse Sunday afternoons in Parque Avellaneda and keep it clear: carnival is popular, shared, and built every day—with joy and street spirit.

The insider tip: Catch them Saturday, February 14 at 6pm at Av. Directorio and Lacarra.

Where: Av. Directorio and Lacarra.

With 26 years in the city circuit and around 250 members, Derrochando Alegría live murga as a fully inclusive space. There are no entry requirements—just be and be present. Entire generations participate, and belonging is built collectively, with clear rules and mutual respect.

This year they have eight confirmed performances in the city circuit and travel with four buses and a truck from Lugano to reach each neighborhood. Their shows combine social commentary and current issues, without partisan messaging, focusing on everyday struggles. Everything—from direction to staging—is decided collectively, with fun as the ultimate goal.

The insider tip: They perform Tuesday, February 17 at 8pm at Corso de Mataderos and Saturday, February 28 at 1am at Plaza Irlanda (Gaona and Seguí), as part of Corso de Flores.

Where: Av. Castañares and General Paz.